High School Sports » Chynna Heltonhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports
The TennesseanWed, 19 Mar 2014 00:26:17 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Lewis County runs out of time in losshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2010/03/11/lewis-county-runs-out-of-time-in-loss/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2010/03/11/lewis-county-runs-out-of-time-in-loss/#commentsThu, 11 Mar 2010 18:10:47 +0000Maurice Pattonhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/?p=368MURFREESBORO — It may be a cliche’, the idea of playing hard for 40 minutes or 32 minutes or however long the game is, but Lewis County lived up to the concept Thursday during its first-ever Class AA state tournament appearance.

Trailing by 11 points in the final minute of an eventual 57-47 loss to Martin Westview, the Lady Panthers were committing fouls, diving for loose balls and connecting on a 3-point basket that provided temporary hope before they finally succumbed.

“That’s the way we play,” Lewis County Coach Larry Helton said. “You might beat us, but we’re going to play you as hard as we can for 32 minutes. We’ve conditioned them that way since I got here nine years ago. We don’t quit.”

It’s a noble idea, but the reality of scoring 11 points in less than a minute — well, it doesn’t happen that often.

“It’s hard to think about,” admitted junior Kenley Crowell.

“You just have to respond and get a basket,” added Jessica Hinson, one of the team’s five seniors.

Playing that way helped Lewis County (27-7) come back from a 14-point second-quarter deficit to get within four points with 4:36 remaining — on a basket by Chynna Helton, the coach’s daughter — before Westview pulled away.

“All you can do is give yourself an opportunity,” the coach said. “It’s a four-point game in the fourth quarter. That’s an opportunity.

“We knew coming in we’d be the underdog. It’s our first time here. But there was never a time we didn’t think we had a chance. We got beat, but we’ll be back.”